Major Arms Cache Recovered from AMU Hostel Following Aligarh Firing Incident
In a significant development, police in Aligarh conducted a targeted search operation at a hostel of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Wednesday, uncovering a substantial cache of illegal ammunition and other incriminating materials. This action was directly linked to a recent firing incident perpetrated by a masked man in a residential area of the city.
Detailed Inventory of Recovered Items
The police recovery from the hostel room was extensive and alarming. The seized items included:
- Two empty magazines for a country-made .32 bore pistol.
- Four empty .315 bore shells.
- Four live 12 bore cartridges.
- One bullet cartridge.
- Several other empty shells of various calibers.
Beyond the ammunition, authorities also confiscated 26 certificates, which are suspected to be a mix of genuine and forged documents, a Dell laptop, a digital notepad, eight mobile phones, and a quantity of counterfeit currency notes in denominations of 500 and 100 rupees.
Police Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The search was executed by a joint team from the Civil Lines and Quarsi police stations. It was initiated in connection with a firing case registered at Quarsi police station on April 7. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Neeraj Kumar Jadaun is leading the investigation.
The primary accused, identified as Shahbaz, a resident of Aligarh's Shahanshabad area, is currently evading arrest and is on the run. SSP Jadaun revealed that investigators are meticulously analyzing the call detail records (CDR) of the accused and examining the contents of the recovered laptop. Preliminary findings indicate that Shahbaz allegedly used multiple identities across different documents, a claim that is under active verification.
Multiple FIRs Registered Under Stringent Laws
Following the recovery, police have registered two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other relevant acts:
- The first case at Quarsi police station includes charges under BNS sections 191(2) (rioting), 191(3) (rioting with deadly weapons), 190 (unlawful assembly), 109(1) (attempt to murder), and 3(5) (common intention).
- A second case at Civil Lines police station has been filed under BNS sections 179 (possession of forged documents), 180 (using forged documents), 318(4) (cheating), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life), and 336(3) (act endangering life), along with applicable sections of the Arms Act.
Authorities Issue Stern Warning
SSP Neeraj Kumar Jadaun has made a public appeal, urging citizens to come forward with any information regarding individuals, particularly those residing in hostels, who may be in possession of illegal weapons. He emphasized a zero-tolerance policy, stating, "Strict legal action will be taken against anyone attempting to disrupt public order." This statement underscores the administration's commitment to maintaining law and security in the wake of this serious incident.
The discovery of such a significant arsenal within a university hostel has raised serious concerns about campus security and the potential for organized criminal activity. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to apprehend Shahbaz and unravel the full extent of the network involved.
